The UK Independence Party is on course to win the largest share of the vote in May’s European Elections, according to a new poll. The party is currently on 30 percent, with Labour in second place on 28.

The ComRes poll for the Independent on Sunday, which bases its European voting figures on the 38 percent of respondents who said they are “absolutely certain” to vote, is the first poll for some time to ask a question specifically about the European elections.

advertisement

The Conservatives, who maintain that they are the only party who can offer a referendum on the EU, linger in third place with 21 percent of the vote, 9 percent behind UKIP. The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, look set to finish a dismal fourth with just eight percent, putting them in danger of losing all their seats in the European Parliament. They are also only two percent ahead of the Greens.

These figures suggest UKIP have emerged largely unscathed from difficult week in which former UKIP MEP Nikki Sinclaire accused party leader Nigel Farage of employing his wife and an alleged mistress on taxpayer money.

The results will not be welcomed by the Prime Minister, however, with his party looking set to finish well behind Labour in third place.

But the figures are even worse for the arch-Europhile Liberal Democrats, who may face a total wipe-out in May.

Polling for the next General Election is looking better for the Conservatives, though. Labour’s lead has shrunk to three percent, down two, giving the Tories hope of closing the gap. UKIP are on up one on 16 percent, while the Lib Dems remain unchanged on nine.